It being summer and the weather being at its apex and conducive to a walk in the meadows, my sweetheart and I packed a lunch replete with eats and drinks and headed for the green pastures of the pastoral landscape. We walked hand in hand through the woods, to be greeted by all the four-legged creatures eager to inquire of our audacity to transgress their domain. My sweetheart had brought an ample supply of nuts for the squirrels and thus scattered them as we walked; we garnered a small parade of the furry critters who did not want to miss out on this cornucopia of their favourite repast.
As we walked, we left the shade of the forest for the canopy of the sky and the sun and the picturesque meadows that gave way to a river cascading from the craggy peaks of the wind-swept mountains. The meadows were a nourishing balm to the soul, and I felt as though I’d been transformed from the mundane to the doorsteps of heaven. We continued our stroll until we found a shady nook under the branches of a willow tree giving protection from the blistering sun. I helped my sweetheart spread a blanket upon the greenery of the riverbank and settled in to enjoy our afternoon of romantic bliss. Rosalyne had outdone herself with her plethora of desserts. We ate and drank our fill until we cuddled up to one another and fell asleep.
As I lay on the ground, I fell into a most profound slumber. The story I’m about to weave is a dream of the most profound. I seemed to have entered another dimension of time and space, and it seemed I’d entered the ethereal.
Chapter Two.
As I rested upon this grassy patch, I was awakened by an elf who bid me follow him and, not knowing what else to do, I succumbed to his wishes. We walked for several minutes, then entered through a set of wrought iron gates into what I can only call a palace. As I entered these palatial surroundings, which was the domain of all sorts of beings: centaurs, elves, fairies, winged dragons, and talking snakes. It seemed they were all waiting for my arrival. At the front of this court were their majesties King Oberon and his beautiful wife Queen Titania, and overseeing this whole assembly was the Goddess Eros, her radiance almost blinding and lighting up the entire hall. You could feel the peace and harmony that permeated the entire palace. As I entered the court, a snake that was about fifteen feet long came slithering across the room to greet me, saying, “So, you’ve finally arrived, come, follow me.”
It led me to confront the king and queen, and said. “Please be seated.” It bowed before slithering to the periphery of the court.
